CHAPTER 22

"Dear Patient No. 22, your surgery is complete. Please proceed to examination room No. 2 as soon as possible, where the doctor will provide you with detailed post-operative instructions."

A gentle voice came from beside me.

Sheng Qing blinked hard. The excessively bright incandescent light above her head caused tears to well up in her eyes involuntarily.

What kind of surgery?

Her unfocused eyes slowly focused and regained their clarity, and Sheng Qing realized that she was lying on a cold operating table.

"Patient number 22, how are you?"

Sheng Qing struggled to lift and rub his temples, noticing the bracelet with the number 22 on his wrist.

"I'm not feeling well." My throat was dry and itchy; I desperately needed some warm water. "Is there any water?"

"It's not recommended to drink water for half an hour after the surgery." A young nurse, huh? ???, helped Sheng Qing move to a wheelchair to the side.

Cat head? That nurse actually has a cat head!

Sheng Qing's eyes widened as she looked around in disbelief at the cat's head and the fluffy tail peeking out from under her nurse's uniform.

They meticulously adjust the data in front of the instruments or carefully check and organize the surgical consumables such as instruments and gauze after surgery.

What's going on?

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Sheng Qing's forehead, and his fingers unconsciously clenched tightly in his palm.

"Don't be too nervous. It's normal to feel a little uncomfortable after the surgery," the gray-haired nurse comforted her kindly, her gray whiskers twitching rhythmically with her mouth movements.

Sheng Qing suppressed his fear and shifted his gaze from the beard to its slightly narrowed eyes.

This is too bizarre! We should remain unchanged in the face of all changes.

Sheng Qing tried his best to calm himself down, and his violently beating heartbeat gradually slowed down.

"It's just a minor surgery, don't worry. Just follow the doctor's instructions for your follow-up appointment." The nurse with the gray cat-like head seemed to smile at Sheng Qing.

As he spoke, he put some other things, the contents of which were unknown, into a bag and hung it on the shelf next to his wheelchair.

I accidentally touched Sheng Qing's hand and felt the warmth of her bare skin.

A bold idea flashed through Sheng Qing's mind, and she carefully observed the busy cat heads in the operating room.

The degree of mutation into a cat is not consistent.

Suppressing her excitement, Sheng Qing asked in a trembling voice, "How long will it take me to be like you?"

"Am I like this?" The gray cat-headed nurse touched her cat ears somewhat embarrassedly and sighed. "It took a whole week after the surgery." Then she touched her hands, which still retained human skin, her eyes filled with melancholy.

You guessed right! The surgery they mentioned most likely involves injecting some kind of substance into the body that promotes mutation into a cat.

"That's already great. I don't know how long it will take me," Sheng Qing said casually, trying to extract more information.

"No way!" The gray-haired nurse with the cat-like hair curled her lip. "According to your preoperative data, it will only take three to five days. I really envy your talent!" She then gave Sheng Qing an envious look.

"Bang!" The operating room door was pushed open, and a tall cat head appeared in the doorway.

"Where is patient number 22? The doctor is urging us to go to examination room 2 as soon as possible."

"Here, almost there." The gray-haired nurse whispered in Sheng Qing's ear, "You can use these buttons to move around. Go outside and turn right, then follow the instructions. Goodbye."

Sheng Qing looked at the forward, backward, left, right acceleration and stop buttons on both sides of the wheelchair, tried pressing them, and easily got out of the door.

More cat heads crowded into her field of vision outside the door. Even though she was mentally prepared, Sheng Qing's heart was still pounding wildly, as if it was about to burst out of her mouth at any moment.

Sheng Qing successfully found consultation room number 2 and completed the check-in. A message popped up on the screen at the door: Patient number 22, please go to consultation room 2 for your consultation.

"Knock knock knock!" Sheng Qing gently knocked on the door.

"Come in." A gentle female voice came from inside the door.

Inside sat a female doctor in a white coat, nearly 50% cat-like, who gave Sheng Qing a gentle smile.

Is it starting to become cat-like so quickly? It can actually recognize the smile of a cat head!

Sheng Qing sat down opposite the doctor. A white light flashed, and then a series of messages appeared on the screen in front of him.

Name: Sheng Qing

Age: 22

Race: Human

Surgical details: First modification

Talent Rating: A

Expected initial cat-like transformation period: 3 days

Expected complete catification period: 7 days

Competition status: None

Other: None

...

"The surgery was a success." The doctor's gaze moved from the screen to Sheng Qing's face, and he nodded in satisfaction.

"The next three days are crucial. It is not recommended to leave the room unless absolutely necessary." The doctor handed over a card.

"Of course, you can still participate in the exclusive activities held daily at the New Life Garden."

"The nurse will take you to the newborn ward, where you can directly swipe your card to get to your room."

“Every morning, noon and evening, someone will deliver medicine and food. Remember to take your medicine half an hour after meals.”

"Any abnormalities can be reported through the call button in the room. Please come back here for a follow-up check in 3 days later."

Sheng Qing took the card blankly, feeling like she was being kept as a pet.

"That's fantastic!" The young girl accompanying Sheng Qing exclaimed excitedly, seemingly filled with fantasies about life at Xinsheng Garden.

"Why did you choose to undergo cat-like transformation and surgery?" the girl asked expectantly.

“Uh…” Sheng Qing was stumped by the question. He couldn’t very well say that he was already lying on the operating table when he opened his eyes.

Fortunately, the girl's mind was elsewhere, and she didn't expect Sheng Qing to answer, so she started explaining the reason on her own.

"My new boyfriend is a cat lover, so I secretly applied for this surgery opportunity. He'll definitely love this surprise." As she spoke, the girl's cheeks flushed, already lost in sweet memories.

Is that the reason why this surgery is not a mandatory procedure?

Besides young people like Sheng Qing who apply for surgery alone, there are also couples who come together, and even elderly people.

"If you love her, stay with her. Cat-themed makeovers will create a brighter future for you!"

"The cutest thing is fluffy, Mom and Dad, I want to become a cute cat too."

"Actively participating in the cat-themed transformation will earn you a monthly government subsidy of 1,000 yuan or a public housing quota, and there is also a position available at a large company for you to choose from. There are many opportunities and many rewards."

...

Along the corridor leading from the operating building to the newborn garden, advertisements are repeatedly displayed, taking every opportunity to promote the various benefits of cat-like transformation to the public.

While seemingly without coercion, this top-down, entertainment-oriented propaganda is subtly sowing seeds in people's minds.

Seeing everyone's nonchalant expressions, Sheng Qing felt vaguely uneasy.

Sheng Qing's room was 22-2 in Building 2 of Xinshengyuan. The nurse escorted her to the elevator before leaving, and before leaving, she earnestly reminded her to follow the doctor's orders.

This is a single suite, fully equipped with all necessary living amenities.

When the digital clock on the wall struck twelve, the doorbell rang precisely on time.

The food delivery worker, sporting a cat head, appeared at the door, supervised Sheng Qing as he ate lunch, and then left half an hour later after taking the medication prescribed by the doctor.

"If you feel itchy skin while transforming into a cat, don't worry. This is normal. You can contact us to apply medication."

Sheng Qing remembered what the staff member had said before leaving, because her scalp really was a little itchy.

Is it going to grow cat ears?

Sheng Qing leaned closer to the full-length mirror in the room, observing it repeatedly. Fortunately, it hadn't started to change yet.

Dinner was delivered at six o'clock. Sheng Qing behaved very well, taking the food and medicine on her own initiative, and watching the staff leave.

The next morning, Sheng Qing was awakened by an itch on her head. She could barely see a soft bump on her head in the mirror, right where cat ears might emerge.

It seems like the hair is growing quite fast, soft and thin, peeking out from the skin.

Memory seemed to be playing tricks on him. Last night before going to sleep, Sheng Qing tried to suppress his divine sense to observe the state of his sea of ​​consciousness, and it took him more than ten minutes to find the way.

We can't keep waiting like this; we might actually grow a cat's head before we even finish the task.

I wonder what the situation is like for Meng Yunxi and the others now.

Breakfast and medicine arrived on time at eight o'clock. Sheng Qing asked for some medicine and felt better after applying it with the help of the staff.

After the staff left, Sheng Qing ran to the toilet, spat out the medicine he had hidden in his mouth, rinsed his mouth, and prepared to return to his room.

With a thought, a cluster of flickering flames lit up. Then, green plants conjured from the wood element appeared in the air, followed by flowing water condensing into ice.

Fortunately, I haven't forgotten my tools for making a living.

Sheng Qing nodded with satisfaction and returned to her room.

Sheng Qing glanced at the digital clock; it was not yet ten o'clock. He could go out for a stroll. He took his room key and went out.

It's so boring. It's either brainwashing ads and sharing sessions about cat-like surgery, or new residents excitedly discussing their cat-like experiences.

As Sheng Qing strolled around, he came to a secluded spot.

Have you heard?

"You mean the new bill?"

Sheng Qing frowned and disappeared into the shadows.

"Yes, I heard about it yesterday when I went to submit some documents to the head of the park. Apparently, they're drafting an outline for a cat-friendly reformation bill."

"If you ask me, it should have been mandatory a long time ago. Smelly humans shouldn't exist."

Sheng Qing noticed that the staff member with the light-colored cat head seemed to be looking at her with disdain.

But after only 30% of becoming cat-like, has it already started to hate its original human identity?

Or is someone deliberately promoting confrontational sentiments?

Looking at the person's exposed limbs, which still retained human skin, Sheng Qing wondered in confusion.

The two cat heads walked away talking, and Sheng Qing quietly returned to her room.

Sheng Qing used the same trick again, secretly spitting out the medicine, but the itching on his body did not get worse.

However, it took nearly half an hour to enter the mental state of observing the sea of ​​consciousness, which suggests that the substance injected during the surgery was still exerting its residual power.

Sheng Qing tried to draw out a wisp of energy and let it linger around her fingertips. In a daze, Sheng Qing smelled a refreshing and unique fragrance, and suddenly a sharp alarm sounded in her ears.

"No way, it's that sensitive?" Sheng Qing quickly drew his aura back into his sea of ​​consciousness and concealed it completely, then opened the window for ventilation.

"Ms. Sheng Qing, are you alright? Our alarm system malfunctioned just now, please don't worry."

"Please open the door and cooperate with us for a routine check." The staff member at the door seemed to have a hint of excitement in his voice.

Sheng Qing carefully opened the door. Inside were two cat heads that were 50% cat-like, with their fluffy tails wagging excitedly behind them.

"Why did the alarm suddenly go off? I was just falling asleep." Sheng Qing rubbed his eyes, pretending to be annoyed, deliberately ignoring the fact that his eyes were now vertical pupils due to excitement.

"What's going on here?" one of the cats asked, pointing to the wide-open window.

"Huh? How did it suddenly open?" Sheng Qing looked even more surprised than them. "I hope no thief got in." She said, hiding behind the cat's head.

Another cat, its whiskers twitching, approached the window, sniffed, and then gave its teammate a wink. The two cats apologized and left.

These cats are indeed monsters; it's not just a simple feline transformation surgery at all.

Sheng Qing recalled that strange fragrance. Had he also become a monster?